The Saints go singing on

The choir who consider themselves one family are getting ready for a new concert, Thank You for the Music

For the Saints choir, practices mean a little more than just singing; they’re a celebration of old friends, family and the recollection of memories. Hearty laughs and chit-chat ensues before they get down to the business of singing, and every practice begins with a little prayer. As they gear up for their seventh concert -’Thank You for the Music’ on October 19, the Saints say that their familylike bond is indeed the true secret of their success.

Their rather interesting name, comes from the fact that they are a collection of oldchoristers from many of the Saints schools in the country. “We’ve all been a part of our school choirs and it was the need to keep the music going that brought us together,” says Suren Abeysekera who shoulders the responsibil-

‘Thank You for the Music will be held on October 19, at the Lionel Wendt. Tickets are priced at Rs. 1,000, Rs. 700 (reserved) and Rs. 300 (unreserved)

ity of training the choir, along with Priyanke Perera.

The choir consists of old boys from the Saints schools with Nalake Fernando, Gladwyn Ramanaden and Placi Gomez from St. Benedict’s College, Suren Abeysekera, Janith Abeysekera, Allan Perera and Russell Gomesz from St. Joseph’s College, Priyanke Perera and Chanu De Mel from St. Anthony’s College Kandy, Mohan Mendis and Rohan Fernando from S. Thomas’ College, Marlon Bjorn from St. Peter’s College and Kenneth Pereira from St. Mary’s College.

Their youngest member is 24, their oldest 70. One may wonder how singers within a wide range of ages would gel together, but they put any doubts to rest with the pitch-perfect harmony of their music. “We’re a four part harmony group and we sing everything from the classics to retro, and Sinhala hits,” says Suren.

“We sing music that’s known to people, but we also try to keep things a little different,” says President of the Saints, Nalake Talaimmnar. There I watched cricket matches, travelled around, stayed in hotels, had a good look at the people particularly the women who were much more beautiful than our women and came home after a few weeks,” JHJ reminisced.

JHJ related how he met the wellknown broadcaster P. Welikela who got him in as a freelancer. He later became a household name as a talented actor on stage and screen. “Now I am blind as a bat”, JHJ who went blind at 76, told Vijith. “I don’t want to get my sight back. I got rid of most of my wants after I became blind. Really I am not feeling very sorry about it. But I pity my wife who has to suffer a lot looking after me. My children try to do everything to make me comfortable but I don’t need anything.”

This is just a glimpse of the characters Vijith Kumar had written about. The list is too long to record here. He had tried to delve more into the human aspects of the persons he had interviewed and succeeded in providing the reader with untold stories. His choice of both better known and lesser known persons gives the book a fine mix. I wonder why the writer has ignored the women. Maybe he is planning a separate book. Fernando, adding that they’ll be doing a couple of numbers that will get the crowd in on the act. “You wouldn’t find a choir doing a sing-along everyday now would you,” he smiles.

There’s a kind of Hush, My Broken Souvenirs, Lying in the arms of Mary, If I said you had a beautiful body, Spanish Eyes, Just wanna’ dance the night away, Bridge o’er Troubled Water - are just a few of the popular songs they will perform, while Sinhala hits such as the Nimal Mendis classic ‘Master Sir’, will definitely get the crowd humming along.

This year has not been all smiles for the Saints, with the sad loss of bass singer and founder member, Bosco Fonseka. “It was a heavy blow to the choir when we lost him in April,” says Suren. “He was an inspiring member and a highly gifted musician, and we find it fitting to dedicate this year’s concert to Bosco.”

For Priyanke, assisting the choir in their training brings forth a sense of joy that is difficult to sum up in words. “Our families are close and our bond goes beyond the generations. It takes a lot of dedication to deliver consecutive concerts every year, but our unity makes things all the more easier.” Almost every member of the choir also shoulders heavy responsibilities in the professional sphere of work, but still makes time to come for the evening practices thrice a week. “Catching up on old times just might be an incentive,” smiles Priyanke.

It is choir member Allan Perera’s home in Kotte that they all crash into for practic- es. “Better be careful with that stool,” he says with a grin, as the choir crowds around for a group picture.

Allan says that he chickened out on the first invitation to join the choir in its early stages, but gladly accepted the second invitation in 2009.

As has always been the case of a Saints concert, part of the proceedings will go to charity. “We’ve made it a point to give back to the community and the Saints family has been rewarded with stronger bonds in return,” says Suren.

The Saints are backed by the accomplished Dayadhree Jayasuriya de Silva on piano, Revel Crake on guitar, Basil Paiva on bass and Daniel Prins on drums and percussion.